Rotary engine.



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l KUWAKICHI r'UJI'rA4 AND' GEORGE' BUSHAR MARKLE, JR., 0F HAZLETON, PENN- SYLVANIA. I

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentediune 13, 1916.

Application mea November 15, 1915. serial No. 61,606.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, KUWAKIGHI FUJITA, a subject of the Mikado of Japan, and GEORGE B. MABKLE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, both residents of Hazleton,

in the county of Luzerne and State of Penn- Sylvania, have inventedv a new and Improved Rotary Engine, of which the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

ends of said chamber to be actuated 'by com` bustion gases of the chamber. l

With the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of the application, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views. l

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through our rotary engine; Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar section on line 3 3, Fig. 1;'Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4 4, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a similar section on line 5 5, Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view gf the lining of one of the turbine chamers.

Referring to the drawings, 7 is a stator, preferably formed of two semi-cylindrical, double-walled sections adapted to be secured to each other by any .suitable means. The inner peripherv of the stator has an annular recess 8 in the central-part thereof. A' lining member 9 engages the recess 8, and means are provided for preventing the rotation of the lining relative to the stator.y

The inner periphery of the lining has an annular recess `9 extending substantially through the length of the lining. Oups 10 are provided on the periphery of the recess to present a large heating surface.

A lining ring 11 is provided within the stator at eachl end of the lining 9.v The inner, lateral surface of the ring is depressed eccentrically at uniform intervals whereby eccentric pockets 12 are formed `on the inner periphery of the ring, eachpocket having one end wall forming the` abutting or reacting end'of the pocket (see Fig. 3). The end Walls of the lining 9 have spirally-shaped grooves 22, each terminatlng 1n a poriJ 23. These spiral grooves establish communication between the recess 9 of the lining 9 with the 'eccentric pockets,

l2 of the lining 11,'for each port 23 is at the reacting end of a corresponding pocket. It will be noted that the depth of the reacting end increases as the pocket approaches the outlet 13 in the ring which leads to a similar ring 14, preferably of the same diameter but wider than the rin-g 11, and spaced from the ring 11 by a double walled, annular partition 15. "A similar partition 16 spaces the ring 14 in the stator from a ring`17, also similar to ring 11 but slightly wider than the ring 14. The end wall 18 of the stator is double-walled and preferably extends inwardly to aline with the partitions 15 and 16.

It will be noted from Fig. 4 thaty the outlet 13 from the ring 11 enters the reacting end of the eccentric pocket` 19 of the ring 14 which has the least depth'. The outlet 120 from said ring, which is formed in the deepest pocket 19 of the ring at the shallow of the grooves 25-and 26, and thereduced portion at the end, are grooved to receive packing rings. The outer periphery of the Y,

' the rotor facing' the cups l0 is provided combustion chamber.

with buckets 27. Annular rotor portions 28, 29 and 30, circumscribed byJ the rings 17, 14 and 11 respectively, form, with the corresponding rings a turbine element. The periphery of each of the rotor portions 28, 29-and 30 is toothed, and the depth of the teeth increases with the increase of width of the rotor portion, to compensate for the necessary expansion of the gases as they pass from one turbinev element to the next turbine element. The teeth 31 of the buckets,of the rotor portions are inclined ltoward the abutting ends of the eccentric pockets in the corresponding rings.

The annular space formed by the lining 9 with the rotor 24 is thel combustion chamber of the engine. A-fuel discharge 32 is located in a suitable part of the chamber.

`Although one discharge only is shown in the drawings, more than one can be provided if desired. The discharge is adapted to spray the fuel within the vannular space on to the cups. Thepart of the liquid which does not fall directly upon the cups 10 `will fall on the rotor, from which t-he liquid will be thrown on tothe cups. The fuel discharge 32 leads to a casing 33 of 'a rotary valve 34. A fuel supply 35 from a pump or gravity feed is connected to the end wall ofthe valve casing 33. A return conduit 36 is also connected to the valve casing 33 diametrically opposite tothe conduit. from the `casing to the discharge 32. The rotary valve 34 is open at the end so that the fuel from theinlet 35 is free to enter the valve. rlhe valve 34 has a port at 37 which is adapted to alternately register Pwith the return conduit 36 or the conduit leading to the dis-l charge 32. Therefore when the .discharge 32.is cut olf by the valve 34 the oil comin from the inlet conduit 35 is returne through the conduit 36. n

The valve casing 33 has at the opposite endthereof a compressed' air supply l38. rl`he casing has also on the lateral surface diametrically opposite openings 39 and 40.

The opening 39 leads to the combustionv chamber of the engine, while the opening 40 is connected by conduits to the turbine elements directly in communication with the Automatic check valves 55 of known type are provided on the conduits from the rotary valve to the stator 7 The rotary valve .34 has a port 41 adapted to register ysuccessively with the openings 39 and 40 in the `casing. rl`he relation between the ports 41 and137 in the rotaryl memes fuel thereto is cut off. Fuel and air are supplied to the combustion chamber and turbine elements under pressure. The rotary valve 34 and the casing 33 are slightly cone shape on their fitting surfaces, and a spring 42 provided within the casing automatically takes up any wear between the valve and basing.

The valve 34 is secured to a shaft 43 which is driven from the main shaft 44 keyed to the hub 45 of the rotor 24. The hub'45fis connected to the inner periphery of the rotor by vanes 46 which, when the rotor is revolved, cause a suction through the rotor. The shaft 44 bears in supports 47 and 48 which have extensions 49 for engaging the stator 7, this extension forming the base of the engme. The end support 48 is preferably closed and provided with a tube 50 which forms an outlet for the air drawn by the vanes through the rotor. To accelerate the cooling df the rotor, in addition to the air drawn therethrough, a cooling liquid is sprayed therewithin through a perforated conduit 51. The stator is cooled by circulating water between the walls 0f the stator. The fuel discharged into the annular combustion chamber of the engine, mixed with the air forced thereinto, is ignited by a spark plug 52, the sparks of which are generated by a magnet 53 driven from the valve shaft 43. i

To start the engine, a certain amount of fuel and air is admitted into the combustion chamber and the same ignited by causing a spark within. The explosion or combustion of the fuel within the combustion chamber vwill drive the gases of combustion from the combustion chamber through the splrallyshaped grooves into the adjacent turblne elements, acting on the teeth of the rotary por- I tion 30 and the abutting or reacting end of addingto the rotary movement of the rotor.

From the second turbine element the gases will 4pass into the third turbine element and act on the teeth of the rotary portion 28, from where the gases exhaust through an exhaust opening 54.' The rotor being set into motion will operate the rotary valve 34 f and thereby fuel will be injected into the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber, being hot from previous explosions of .the mixture, will vaporize the liquid fuel falling upon the cups. rlhe subsequent admission of air by the valve will mix the gases with the air and the same will be 1gnited by the magneto, properly tlmed, the combustion gases a ainA passing from the chamber into the adjacent turbine elements.

It will benoted that during the admission of fuel into the combustion chamber, air is admitted to the turbine elements in communication with the combustion chamber. This admission of -air under pressure tothe turbine elements at the end of the combustion chamber causes the compression of the fuel gas in the chamber. It helps to scavenge the turbine elements and-also prevents the.

fuel gases from escaping before being ignited. The air coming from the turbine elements into the combustion chamberv helps to make a more perfect mixture of the fuel gases within the combustion chamber. The successive concentric pockets within the turbine elements, which increase in depth as the pockets approach the outlet from the turbine element compensate forthe expansion of the combustion gasesv as they approach the outlet.

We claim l. In a rotary engine, a stator, a rotor,

said rotor and stator forming a combustion chamber between the ends thereof and turbine elements at the ends in communication with the ends of the chamber, fuel-supplying means for the combustion chamber, airsupplying means for the combustion chamb'er and turbine elements, means for admitting successively fuel and air into the combustion chamber, said means adapted to supply air tothe turbine elements while the the chamber.

supply of air to the combustion chamber is cut ofi", vand means for igniting the fuel within the combustion chamber.

2. In a rotary engine, a rotor, a stator, said stator and rotor forming an annular combustion chamber, said stator and rotor also forming turbine elements, each end of said combustion chamber having outlets lto the adjacent turbine elements, air-supply-- ing means to the combustion chamber and the adjacent turbine elements, fuel-supplying means for the combustion chamber, the lateral surface of said chamber being irregular to present a maximumI surface, means controlling the supply of air and fuel to the chamber and turbine elements so that fuel and air is successively admitted to the combustion chamber and air is admitted to the turbine elements when fuel is supplied to the chamber, and means for igniting the fuel in 3. In a rotary engine, a stator,'a rotor within the stator forming therewith an annular combustion chamber, said statorhaving cups within the combustion chamber on vthe lateral surface of the stator, said rotor. having buckets within the combustion chamber on the lateral surface of the-rotor, fuelsupplying means` fuel discharges within the combustion chamber associated *with the fuel-supplying means, air-supplying means, a valve associated with the fueland airsupplying means and adapted to successively admit air and fuel to the combustion chamber, means for igniting the fuel within the chamber, said stator and rotor forming successive turbine elements at each end of the combustion chamber, the adjacent turbine elements being in communication, said chamber communicating with the adjacent turbine elements, said valve adapted to supply air to said turbine elements ladjacent the chamber vwhen the air from the chamber is cut oftl by said valve.

4. In a rotary engine, a stator, a rotor, said stator and rotor forming a combustion chamber, said stator and rotor forming also ment, said rotor having teeth within the turbine element coperating with the reacting endsl of the pockets thereof.

5. In a rotary engine, a stator having a plurality of annular partitions adjacent the ends thereof, a rotor having annular grooves engaging the partitions of the stator, said. f

stator and rotor forming a combustionchamber between thev pluralities of partitions,

teeth on the periphery of the rotor portions located between the partitions, said stator having eccentric pockets betweenl said `partitions, each of said pockets presenting a single reacting end, said partitions having openings establishing communication between the adjacent annular spaces formed by said partitions, said partitions having' openings therethrough for establishing communi. cation between the adjacent annular compartments formed by the partition engaging the grooves of the rotor, means for supplying a fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, and means for igniting the mixture.

6. Iny a rotary engine, a stator, a rotorforming with the stator a combustion chamber between theends thereof and turbine ele- -ments at the ends in communication with the ends of the chamber, fuel supply means for-the combustion chamber, means for sup'- plying "air to the chamber directly and through the lcommunication .between the chamber and the turbine elements, means for controlling the admission of air and fuel adapted to simultaneously supply fuel and air through the communication between the 5 chamber and the turbine elements whereby the fuel is prevented ,from escaping from the chamber and the turbine elements, said con- 1 trolling means supplying air directly to the chamber when the fuel supply thereto is cut 10 off, 'and ignition means within the chamber for igniting the fuel mixture subsequent to the direct admission of air.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

KUWAKICHI FUJITA. AGEORGE BUSHAR MARKLE, JR.

Witnesses:

S. A. BARBER, C. R. STARIFFER. 

